SV Darmstadt 98 have signed Roman Bezjak for an undisclosed fee; the Slovenian international arriving from Croatian giants HNK Rijeka.

The striker arrives after his new club drew a blank in their 2016-17 season opener, losing 2-0 to 1. FC Köln, and will hope to give them some well needed attacking prowess going forward.

Darmstadt sold Sandro Wagner to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the summer, the 28-year-old having scored 14 goals last term. However, Bezjak has the finishing ability to fill his goal-scoring boots, having scored 13 last season in Croatia and seven in seven appearances this season.

Bezjak will join a handful of summer recruits in the striking department, with Antonio ColakVictor ObinnaDenys Oliynyk and Sven Schipplock all keen to make an impact in the final third too.

They are all tasked with making sure the club do not feel Wagner's absence, with the emphasis on them to be large due to none of the attackers left from Darmstadt's 2015-16 season having registered their name on a scoresheet last term.

Bezjak also brings Champions League experience to the table, having competed in the competition with Ludogorets - who he is pictured celebrating with above. (Photo: NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Bezjak also brings Champions League experience to the table, having competed in the competition with Ludogorets - who he is pictured celebrating with above. (Photo: NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Bezjak delighted with dream move

Speaking to the club's official website, new boy Bezjak admitted his excitement ahead of his move Germany and to a league he says he has always wanted to play in.

"I am very happy to be here," said the striker. "It was always my greatest wish to play in the Bundesliga."

He said that his ambition to play in such a prestigious league is what has driven him in his career, saying it is why he has "given everything, every day, for years.

"Now, I will also do everything to be successful with the team," Bezjak concluded, with him to wear the number 14 shirt as he aims to make an impression at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.

Darmstadt's Sporting Director, Holger Fach expressed his - and the club's - belief in Bezjak's ability to be successful in Hesse too, saying that he has thoroughly "proven his goal-scoring ability" over the years.

Furthermore, Fach believes that the new signing adds "variability" to the team's attack, as they aim to retain their Bundesliga status this season.

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Ameé Ruszkai
Head of the Sunderland, Swansea City and women football sections at VAVEL UK. Email: [email protected]